Bending to Earth: Strange Stories by Irish Women

by Maria Giakaniki (Editor), Brian J. Showers (Editor), Anna Maria Hall (Mrs. S. C. Hall)

Irish women have long produced literature of the gothic, uncanny, and supernatural. Bending to Earth draws together twelve such tales. While none of the authors herein were considered primarily writers of fantastical fiction during their lifetimes, they each wandered at some point in their careers into more speculative realms - some only briefly, others for lengthier stays.

Names such as Charlotte Riddell and Rosa Mulholland will already be familiar to aficionados of the eerie, while Katharine Tynan and Clotilde Graves are sure to gain new admirers. From a ghost story in the Swiss Alps to a premonition of death in the West of Ireland to strange rites in a South Pacific jungle, Bending to Earth showcases a diverse range of imaginative writing which spans the better part of a century.

Contents:
- Introduction by Maria Giakaniki and Brian J. Showers
- "The Dark Lady" by Anna Maria Hall
- "The Child's Dream" by Lady Jane Wilde
- "The Unquiet Dead" by Lady Augusta Gregory
- "The Woman with the Hood" by L. T. Meade
- "The Wee Gray Woman" by Ethna Carbery
- "The Blanket Fiend" by Beatrice Grimshaw
- "The First Wife" by Katharine Tynan
- "Transmigration" by Dora Sigerson Shorter
- "Not to Be Taken at Bed-Time" by Rosa Mulholland
- "The Red Woollen Necktie" by B. M. Croker
- "The De Grabrooke Monument" by Charlotte Riddell
- "A Vanished Hand" by Clotilde Graves

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Supernatural

200 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2019

Reviews

[Karl]

Of the numbered copies this is copy number 58 of 100, from a print run of 400 and is signed by Brian J. Showers.

Contents :

vii - Introduction by Maria Giakaniki and Brian J. Showers
003 - "The Dark Lady" by Anna Maria Hall
015 - "The Child's Dream" by Lady Jane Wilde
019 - "The Unquiet Dead" by Lady Augusta Gregory
034 - "The Woman with the Hood" by L. T. Meade
053 - "The Wee Gray Woman" by Ethna Carbery
062 - "The Blanket Fiend" by Beatrice Grimshaw
086 - "The First Wife" by Katharine Tynan
093 - "Transmigration" by Dora Sigerson Shorter
109 - "Not to Be Taken at Bed-Time" by Rosa Mulholland
126 - "The Red Woollen Necktie" by B. M. Croker
133 - "The De Grabrooke Monument" by Charlotte Riddell
159 - "A Vanished Hand" by Clotilde Graves
175 - Biographical Notes
183 - Acknowledgements

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/201...

As the subtitle "Strange Stories by Irish Women" reveals, the dozen stories in this excellent collection definitely fall on the strange side, and in their selection, the editors have brought together a mix of tales written by women who, as they tell us, were not

"considered during their lifetimes to be chiefly writers of fantastical fiction. Yet they each at some point in their careers wandered into more speculative realms -- some only briefly, others for more lengthier stays."

What matters here is not how long their wanderings "into more speculative realms" lasted, but rather that these women left behind these stories, most of them now fallen into the void of obscurity, to be enjoyed well over a century later.

Bending to Earth is a mix of superb, uncanny tales featuring (among other things) wandering spirits, tortured souls of both the earthly and ethereal sort, dream-like visions, and Irish ghost lore I can imagine listening to while seated beside a fire in an otherwise darkened and quiet room while outside a storm is raging and the wind is howling like the proverbial banshee.

As someone who has developed a passion not only for ghost stories and strange tales of yesteryear, but for ghost stories and strange tales of yesteryear written by women whose work has been largely forgotten or neglected, Bending to Earth is a much-treasured volume in my home library, and I am once again the cheer squad for the small presses that put out such gems, here represented by Swan River Press.

At the end of their introduction, Maria Giakaniki and Brian Showers note that

"These twelve strange stories by Irish women are our choices, and represent only a small selection from a much broader range of possibilities."

Hopefully (please!!), they have enough strange stories left over after what they've chosen to include in this volume to fill another. I'll be buying that one too.

[Vultural · Rating 4 out of 5]

Various (Editors: Giakaniki and Showers) - Bending To Earth

Collection of supernatural and hauntings penned by female Irish writers.
Unlike many collections, these are not arranged chronologically, but seemingly by mood.
Akin to a older era vinyl album, mixing tempos and sentiments.

A wistful, melancholy story might be followed by revenge or comeuppance.
Authors range from Lady Jane Wilde to Rosa Mulholland.
Classic ghosts to elementals more sinister.

Editors Maria Giakaniki and Brian Showers have also penned an insightful, very useful Introduction.
The usual acknowledgements and biographies reside on the final pages, but the Introduction is much more in depth and contains a fair bit of detail.
So much so that I investigated one of the authors and subsequently ordered one of their titles as a Christmas gift for a rather “difficult to buy for” type.

Richard Dalby fans, take a look at this.

[Karen Kohoutek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really well-selected collection, including familiar names and new discoveries, with different styles and subject matter, while having a strong sense of continuity. Really excellent! Most of the stories have surprisingly simple premises: a sullen recluse acquires a love charm to win over a woman who hates and fears him; a family laughs at the daughter's vivid dream of a killer at the door; a young woman is accidentally locked in an ancient cathedral at night. But they're very effective, and long on atmosphere. Highly recommended.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little collection of gothic fiction and a great introduction to some of Ireland's forgotten female writers. I didn't love every story, but the ones I enjoyed are definitely being saved for further reading later!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of short tales, by turns phantastical, dark, strange, haunting, and oddly cozy. Collected into a beautifully produced book, another solid offering from the stalwart Swan River Press.